Console-chair combination

ABSTRACT

A console and chair combination, particularly suited for use as a sewing machine cabinet wherein the chair may be conveniently nested within the console, lock means provided to lock the chair when nested within the console, and a castering system to enable the chair and console combination to be moved as a unit when the chair has been nested and locked within the console.

ited States Patent Weber 51 Jan. 23, 1973 [s41 CONSOLE-CHAIR COMBINATION 2,271,007 1/1942 Hanna ..297/140 1761 1 e 600 Glen Ridge $323122? 11/1322 fi's'illil'. .......'.'.'.1'.1115:?Z22 60612 0154,453 7/1949 Schukat ..297/140 22 Filed; March 25 1971 2,940,807 6/1960 Rubin ..312/235 R [2}] Appl' 128,086 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attorney-Dominik, Knechtel & Godula [52] US. Cl. ..297/140, 297/143, 312/21,

' Y 312/235, 312/250 ABSTRACT [51] IIELCL ..A47b 83/00 A consqle and chair combination, particularly Suited [581 Flam Search 12/235 for use as a sewing machine cabinet wherein the chair Ian/25 317 297/193 may be conveniently nested within the console, lock 248/206 A means provided to lock the chair when nested within 7 the console, and a castering system to enable the chair {56] References Cited and console combination to be 'moved as a unit when UNITED STATES PATENTS v the chair has been nested and locked within the conso e.

3,353,865 11/1967 Bass ..297/143 3,395,959 8/1968 White ..3i2/250 7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures T l I 1 I2 1 r r ll I 60 I I I 54 l I l i If L l, J-

as as 65 PATENTEDJAHZS I975 3,712,667

SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG. 1

FIG. 3

//v VENTOR Albert 0. w

PATENTEDJMBIQH 3,712,667

SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR 516,9 Albert C. Weber ATTYS.

CONSOLE-CHAIR COMBINATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various fonns and arrangements of console and chair combinations are known in the art. Usually, such combinations take the form of separate consoles and chairs, which, due to furniture style and the like, are sold as a unit. However, in the modern day environment, especially in urban areas where living space is being limited by the smaller size apartments and homes, the emphasis is not only on styling, but also compactness, efficiency and multiple uses for the same piece of furniture. Therefore, it has become desirable to design such units as console and chair combinations in as compact form as possible in order to minimize storage space while maximizing working space when the unit is in use. Such chair and cabinet combinations find use as home desks, sewing machine cabinets, general work areas, and the like.

One of the most desirable styles of console-chair combination units of the type affording compactness, efficiency and multiple use, is the type wherein the chair may be completely nested within the console when not in use, and fully removable from the console when placed in use. For example, US. Design Pat. No. 154,453 issued to A. Schukat on July 12, 1949 and assigned to theassignee of the present application, discloses the basic combination of a console and chair wherein the chair is completely nested within the console when not in use, while being completely removable from the console when the unit is to be used.

In spite of the fact that such units have provided highly useful and efficient, it has been found that due to the space limitations posed by smaller apartments and homes, it is usually desirable to store such units in locations which do not lend themselves to work areas, and in order to utilize the unit, it becomes necessary to move the unit. However, heretofore, ease of movement of the console and chair as a unit has been difficult and/orcumbersome, usually requiring that the chair and console be moved separately even when both are provided .with'casters. Ease of movement is further complicated by the present day extensive use of shag carpeting and other types of deep pile carpeting in new apartments and homes, since often the unit to be moved is quite heavy, causing the unit as a whole to sink into the carpeting and rendering movement difficult.

Hence, it has become desirable to develope consolechair combination units which are compact for storage purposes, expansive and efficient when placed in use, and easily movable as a unit when movement from one location to another within the home is necessary or desirable, even over such surfaces as are presented by shag or other deep pile carpeting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a console and chair combination, which is provided with novel means for accurately aligning and nesting the chair within the console, locking means for locking the chair with the console, once proper aligning and nesting has been accomplished, and a novel castering system whereby the combination of the chair and console once nested, may be moved as a unit.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a console and chair combination which, in the closed position, provides a compact package that may be moved with case while the chair is nested and locked within the counsel unit.

Another object of the invention is a console and chair. combination which includes means for accurately aligning the chair within the console when the chair is nested therein, locking means for locking the chair in relationship with the console unit once nested, and a castering system 'to enable the chair and console combination to be moved as a unit when movement is desirable or necessary.

Still a further object of this invention is a chair-console combination unit of the type set forth hereinabove, wherein the chair is provided with a pouch to accommodate the storage therein of a loose cushion which may be utilized in connection with the chair to render the same more comfortable, while at the same time enabling the chair to be compactly nested within the console without having the loose cushion interfering with the nesting relationship between the console and chair.

Another object of the present invention is a chair and console combination unit, wherein the console is provided with a retractable platform which is positionable in an upper support position, in an intermediate support position and a lower support position, and a novel spring-loaded hinging system for facilitating the positioning of the retractable platform in any of the aforementioned support positions.

Yet another object of this invention is a chair and console combination unit which provides all of the above advantages while at the same time further providing a compact piece of furniture when in the closed position and which may be moved with great ease regardless of the surface upon which such unit rests and which, when opened to the .full operating position, provides a substantial amount of working space.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts whereby the aboveoutlined and additional operating features thereof are obtained.

The invention, both 'as' to its organization and method of operating, together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the company drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a front elevational, partly broken away view of the cabinetwith a free-armsewing machine disposed thereon;-

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the chair and console combination in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a bottom cross sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of the console and chair combination in the nested relationship;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side-view of the chair portion of the combination showing the use of a loose cushion in solid lines and the storage pouch for said cushion, the cushion being shown in phantom in the storage pouch;

FIG; 7 is a front elevational view of the chair having the chair cushion disposed thereon;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the chair showing the pouch for storing the loose cushion therein;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational cross sectional view of the chair used in combination with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing the castering system of the chair.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a console-chair combination unit generally referred to by the numeral 10 (FIG. 2) which includes a console 11 and a chair 12. As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the combination unit 10 is shown with the chair 12 nested within the console 11. In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the console is shown to include a pair of side walls 13, back wall 14, a top 15, an open bottom 16, and a substantially open front portion, generally referred to by the numeral 17. A front panel 18 is disposed immediately below the top 15 and extends from one side wall 13, to the other opposing side wall 13, across the front portion 17. The front panel 18 includes a cut-out section 19 which is provided in order to enable the operator of the device to make manual adjustments to an apparatus which is disposed on the top 15 in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

An extension platform 20, is provided which is hingedly secured to the top 15, by means of a hinge assembly 21. The extension platform 20 is hingedly mounted to the top 15 by a hinge 21, in order to provide additional working space when the console 11 is in use by pivoting the extension platform 20 through 180 thereby providing work space consisting of the top surface of the extension platform 20 and the upper surface of the top 15 In the closed position, the extension platform 20 is pivoted through 180 to the right, as shown in FIG. 1, thereby to provide a compact unit as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. In addition, a support arm 22 is provided for supporting the extension platform 20, when in the open position. The support arm 22 is nested within an opening (not shown) disposed in the side wall 13 and is actuated to extend outwardly by the movement of the extension platform 20 when pivoted into the open position. When the extension platform 20 is pivoted back into the closed position as shown in FIG. 2, the support arm 22 is caused to retract into the opening provided in the side wall 13 thereby to be neatly disposed within the console 11.

A pair of tapered wheel guides 25 and 26 are mounted adjacent the open bottom 16 of the console 11. The wheel guides 25 and 26 are mounted on corresponding side walls 13 and extend from the open front portion 17 to the back wall 14 wherein the rear edge of the wheel guides 25 and 26 are also suitably mounted. In. FIG. 3 of the drawings, the angle of taper of the wheel guides 25 and 26 is more clearly shown. It will be noted that the wheel guides 25 and 26 are outwardly tapered from the back wall 14 to the open front portion 17, the wheel guides 25 and 26 functioning to accurately guide and position the chair when nested within the console, and additionally serve the purpose of providing convenient foot rests for the operator, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the console 11 will be provided with a pair of swivel casters 27, mounted on mounting blocks 28, adjacent the bottom rear edge thereof. The front edge of the console 11 is provided with support legs which are of a height equal to the height of the swivel casters 27 disposed at the rear edge. In this manner, in

order to move the console 11, the operator merely lifts the front edge of the console 11 and may thereby move the console 11 by pushing against the rear swivel casters 27. The purpose for eliminating front casters on the console, is that during the use of the chair-console combination unit 10, especially as a sewing machine cabinet arrangement, the console is less likely to move in response to movement of the sewing machine, or other apparatus disposed on the top 15 thereof, where vibrational forces are caused by the operation of such machine.

FIG. 4 of the drawings illustrate various other mechanical elements of the present invention. The top 15 is shown to include a cut-out section, 30 which is of sufficient dimensions to accommodate therein the retractable platform 31. The retractable platform 31 in the console 11 is provided with a hardware assembly 32 to accommodate vertical movement of the retractable platform into an upper support position, an intermediate support position, and a lower support position.

The hardware assembly 32 includes a pair of guide tracks 33 which are mounted on the interior surfaces of the side walls 13, the tracks being in vertical and horizontal alignment with respect to one another. Each of the guide tracks 33, when viewed in cross section, would appear as a U-shaped structure having an open slot extending vertically through the base of the U. The retractable platform 31 includes a pair of guide plates 34 which are mounted to the under surface of the platform 31, extending vertically downwardly therefrom adjacent each of the side edges thereof. Each guide plate 34 is provided with a guide roller 35, which is mounted adjacent the lower edge of the guide plate 34 and is positioned whereby the roller portion of the guide roller 35 is disposed within the U-shaped portion of the guide track 33. In this manner, the guide plates 34 will move in the channel provided by the guide tracks 33 in order to stabilize the vertical movement of the retractable platform 31.

Each guide plate 34 is also provided with a pawl 36 which forms a part of the assembly accounting for the upper, intermediate and lower support position of the retractable platform 31. The console 11 is provided with a pair of brackets 37 which are mounted at the point of juncture of the back wall 14 with the side walls 13 intermediate the top 15 and the bottom 16. Within each bracket 37, there is disposed a coiled spring 38 (see FIG. 1) each of the coiled springs having an outwardly extending spring arm 39 which engages a spring engagement flange 40 extending outwardly from a first hinge arm 41. The first hinge arm 41 is pivotally mounted at its lower end to the bracket 37 by means of a suitable connection, such as a rivet or nut and bolt arrangement 42, and at its upper end is pivotally mounted to a second hinge am 44 by means of a rivet, or nut and bolt arrangement 43. The upper end of the second hinge arm 44 is pivotally connected by means of a rivet or a nut and bolt arrangement 45 to a third hinge arm 46. The third hinge arm 46 is pivotally mounted to the corresponding side wall 13 of the console 11 by means of a rivet, or nut and bolt arrangement 47 and the upper end thereof is free-swinging as depicted at 48 in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The third hinge arm 46 is provided with a series of two detents 49 which cooperate with the pawl 36 mounted on the guide plate 34 in order to provide suitable stop positions for the retractable platform 31.

In operation, the coiled spring 38 normally tends to urge the first hinge arm 41, second hinge arm 44 and third hinge arm 46 into the upwardly extended position whereby the pawl 36 rests in the first detent 49 causing the retractable platform 31 to rest in the upper support position as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. In the event the console 11 is to be used as a sewing cabinet, for example, and a sewing machine such as depicted in the drawings, is disposed on the retractable platform 31, the weight of the sewing machine causes sufficient counterbalance pressure against the coiled spring 38 whereby only slight manual pressure would be necessary in order to move the retractable platform 31 with the sewing machine disposed thereon, from the upper support position to either the intermediate support position, wherein pawl 36 would-be disposed in the second detent 49', or into the lower support position as depicted in phantom and represented by the numeral 31' in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is also illustrative of the manner in which the chair 12, may be nested within the console 11 to provide a compact unit for storage purposes. The detail construction of the chair 12 is more clearly shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, and generally includes a pair of side walls 50, a front wall 51, a back wall 52, a bottom wall 53 and a seat support top wall 54. The chair12 is also provided with a back rest 55, the outer surface of which provides the front cover for the chair-console combination unit 10 when the chair 12. is fully nested within the console 11. As stated hereinabove, the arrangement of the chair 12 as nested within the console I l is more clearly shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, wherein the chair 12 is shown to be in locked relationship with the console 11. The locking mechanism is generally designated by the number 56 and 'may comprise any typeof suitable locking means. .The preferred type of locking mechanismcomprises a pair of magnets. one of each of the magnets being mounted along the side walls 13 of the console 11, and

a pair of magnetic plates mounted. on the interior surface of the back rest 55 adjacent the upper edge thereof and disposed such that in the nested position, the magnetic plates will mate with the magnets mounted on the console I 1 thereby to lock the chair 12 in mating relationship with the console 11. Obviously, other forms 'of locking mechanisms may besimilarly utilized, the only requirement being that when the chair 12 is nested within the console 11, the back rest 55 i must be snugly held against the console 11 whereby the top wall 15 slightly overhangs the upper edge of the back rest 55 to provide a grasping area for the operator to grasp and lift the unit 10 in order to move the same.

The construction of the chair 12 may be of any suitable form, and usually such construction requires that suitable braces,generally represented by the number 57, be incorporated in the construction thereof in order to provide adequate support to accommodate the weight of the operator carried thereby. The top wall 54, which comprises the seat support surface, is provided with a carrying pouch 58 which is formed by rectangular cut-out section 59, disposed along the rear edge of the top wall 54 and the bottom of which is formed by the bottom wall 53 ofthe chair 12. The carrying pouch 58 provides a convenient storage space for a seat cushion 60 enabling the chair 12 to be snugly nested within the console 11 when the retractable platform 31 is disposed in the lower support position, as shown in phantom in FIG. 4. The parts are so arranged that if the cushion 60 were to remain in its position on the top wall 54, and the chair 12 nested within the console 11, the retractable platform 31, could not be completely lowered into the lower support position 29. Hence, by providing a carrying pouch 58 for the cushion 60, the unit may be sold with a seat cushion 60 provided, thereby making a more attractive commercial product.

The castering system for the chair is more particularly shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings. Each of the rear bottom edges of the chair 12 is provided with a unidirectional caster 65, the rear of the chair 12 being construed as that portion of the chair where the back rest 55 is disposed. Two swivel casters 66 are mounted along the bottom front edge of the chair 12 in spaced relation with respect to one another, the two front swivel casters being spaced slightly inwardly with respect to the respective side walls 50. The front swivel casters 66 are supported from a support bar 67 formed by an upper mounting section 68 and having the outer edges thereof turned downwardly to form a pair of legs 69, the outer'edges of which are suitably constructed in order to accept swivel casters 66 therein. The support bar 67 is mounted to the bottom wall 53 of the chair 12 by means of a plurality of bolts 70 which are journalled through corresponding openings (not shown) provided in the support bar 67 and in the bottom wall 53 of the chair 12. The support bar 67 is so constructed that the downwardly depending legs 69 thereof have an overall width between them which is just slightly less than the width between the inner edges of the tapered wheel guides 25 and 26 mounted interiorly on the console 11. In this manner, when the chair 12 is to be nested within the console 11, the legs 69 of the chair 12 will be guided into the console 11 until they meet with the inner edges of the tapered wheel guides 25 and 26 thereby to'accurately position the chair 12 within the console 11 until the lock mechanism 56 is engaged. 0bviously, prior to nesting the chair 12 in the console 11,

the seat cushion 60 has been appropriately inserted in the carrying pouch 58 in order to provide sufficient room for the retractable platform 21 to be lowered into the lower support position 49, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The castering system for the chair 12, as stated above, provides swivel casters 66 along the'lower front edge of the chair l2 and uni-directional casters along the bottom edge of the chair 12, which system enables not only a convenient steering means for the chair, but also a more stable method of moving the chair with the operator sitting thereon. In addition, in view of the fact that the console 11 is provided with swivel casters 27 along the back edge thereof, and no casters at all at the front edge thereof, once the chair 12 is nested within the console I 1, and the combination unit 10 is moved as a unit, the complete series of swivel casters 66 and 27 are provided along the rear edge of the unit 10 and the uni-directional casters 65 are pro-, vided along the back edge, thereby to provide improved steering mechanism for the unit 10 as a whole. Furthermore, due to the fact that a sewing machine or other appropriate apparatus is disposed upon a retractable platform 31, and positioned in the lower support position 49 when the chair 12 is nested within the console 11, the sewing machine or other apparatus provides sufficient counterweight whereby the operator may easily lift the front edge of the top portion of the unit in order to move the unit as a whole when desired. In this manner, ease of movement is possible even over shag type carpeting as well as deep pile type carpeting of the type which is currently in vogue.

In order to place the unit 10 in operation, the operator need only pull the chair outwardly from the console 11, and the manual pressure required to pull the chair 12 from the console 11 being sufficient in order to disengage the lock mechanism 56. The seat cushion 60 may then be withdrawn from the carrying pouch 58 and placed upon the seat support top wall 54, to complete the arrangement of the chair. The extension platform may then be pivotally moved through I80 outwardly thereby causing the support arm 22 to be moved outwardly in order to support the extension platform 20 in the extended position. The operator may then reach through the open front portion 17 and grasp the retractable platform 31, which is disposed in the lower support position as shown at 49 (FIG. 4) and with only a slight degree of manual pressure, due to the natural urging of the coiled spring 38, and the hinge assembly 32 urged by the coiled spring 38 which will cause the pawl 36 to ride along the upper edge of the third spring hinge arm 46 and ride into the detent 49' thereby causing the retractable platform 31 to stop in the intermediate support position. Where the retractable platform 31 carries a standard home sewing machine, the intermediate support position is the desired position whereby the sewing platform of the sewing machine would be coextensive with the upper surface of the top wall 15 and the remainder of the machine is disposed below the top wall 15 in a manner familiar to those having used other forms of sewing cabinets. In this event, as was described above, the front panel 18 includesa cut-out section 19 through which the operator may insert their hand in order to change the bobbin on the sewing machine, or make other minor adjustments. Where other forms of sewing machines are utilized, such as for example a free-arm sewing machine, such as depicted in. FIG. 1 of the drawings, it is then desirable to have the retractable platform 31 raised to the upper support position, and this is accomplished by the operator merely grasping the retractable platform 31 and applying additional pressure in order to cause pawl 36 to ride out of detent 49' and into detent 49 whereby the retractable platform 31 is then disposed in a position coextensive with the top 15.

Once the machine has been disposed in the appropriate position, the operator may be seated upon the chair l2 and direct the chair 12 into the operational position whereby the legs of the operator would be disposed in the front portion 17 of the console 11. In this position, the tapered wheel guides and 26 serve the additional purpose of providing convenient foot rests for the operator while the operator is operating the sewing machine. Hence, the tapered wheel guides provide a dual purpose of not only guiding the chair 12 in and out of the nested position with respect to the console 11, but also serve the purpose of providing a foot rest for the convenience of-the operator thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of the chair 12, and due to the construction thereof, the chair 12 may be provided with a drawer assembly 71 which is slidable laterally in order to provide a convenient storage area for various items which the operator may wish to store therein.

In order to close and store the unit, the above steps are merely reversed whereby the chair 12 becomes conveniently nested within the console 11 and locked into place by the lock mechanism 56, and due to the castering system provided in connection with the chair 12 and console 11, the unit 10 as a whole may be wheeled into any convenient space as desired.

Hence, in accordance with the above description, there has been provided a novel and improved chair and console combination unit which is easily opened and placed within a matter of seconds, and which may be easily and conveniently moved into any desired location in the home or apartment. In addition, the unit as described herein provides a very compact unit when in the closed position, and as such, may be stored in very small spaces, which is of great advantage in apartments of the modern type wherein space is at a premium. Furthermore, due to the castering system provided for both the chair and the console units separately, the unit as a whole may be easily moved over any surface including shag type carpeting as well as deep pile type carpeting, which is the type currently employed in many apartments and homes. It is therefore clear that the above objects and advantages as well as the additional objects and advantages have been provided by virtue of the combination of elements inherent in the above invention as described herein. While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A nestable console and chair combination comprising a console including opposing side walls, a back wall, a bottom, a top, and an open front portion, said top having a cut-out section to accommodate a platform retractable into upper, intermediate and lower support positions, a chair nestable within said console, at least two axially aligned swivel casters mounted on the bottom of said console adjacent the back wall thereof, a pair of axially aligned swivel casters mounted on the front edge of said chair, a pair of axially aligned fixed casters mounted on the rear edge of said chair, and lock means for locking said chair in nested relationship with said console, whereby the console and chair combination may be readily nested and locked together and easily moved as a unit by manually lifting the front portion of the unit and maneuvering the unit into the desired position.

2. The console and chair combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the console includes a pair of horizon tally aligned wheel guides mounted on the interior surfaces of the side walls adjacent the bottom thereof, said wheel guides being forwardly tapered thereby to provide accurate aligning guides for the chair as the same is inserted into the console for nesting therein.

3. The console and chair combination as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the chair includes a chair cushion and a pouch disposed adjacent the juncture of the chair back and chair seat in order to accommodate therein storage of said chair cushion to facilitate nesting of the chair within the console when the retractable platform is disposed in the lower support position.

4. The console and chair combination as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said lock means comprises a pair of magnets mounted on the console along the front portion thereof and a pair of magnetic plates mounted on the interior surface of the chair back whereby once the chair is properly aligned and nested within the console, the magnets each engage corresponding magnetic plates thereby locking the chair in nested relationship with the console.

5. The console and chair combination as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the console includes a front panel extending from side to side and having a cut-out section adjacent one side thereof to facilitate manual adjustments to an apparatus carried by the retractable platform while disposed in the intermediate support position.

6. In a nestable console and chair combination wherein the console includes opposing side walls, a back wall, a bottom, a top, and an open front portion, and the top having a cut-out section to accommodate a platform retractable into an upper, intermediate and lower support positions, and a chair nestable within the console, the improvement comprising in combination at least two axially aligned swivel casters mounted on the bottom of the console adjacent the back wall thereof, a pair of axially aligned swivel casters mounted on the front edge of the chair, a pair of axially aligned fixed casters mounted on the rear edgev of the chair, lock means for locking the chair in nested relationship with the console, a pair of horizontally aligned wheel guides mounted on the interior surfaces of the side walls of the console adjacent the bottom thereof, said wheel guides being-forwardly tapered thereby to provide' accurate aligning guides for the chair as the same is inserted into the console for nesting therein, and the chair including a loose chair cushion, and a pouch disposed in the chair adjacent the back edge thereof in order to accommodate therein storage of said chair cushion to facilitate nesting of the chair within the console when the retractable platform is disposed in the lower support position, whereby the console and chair combination may be readily nested and locked together and easily moved as a unit by manually lifting the front portion of the unit and maneuvering the unit into the desired position.

7. A nestable console and chair combination comprising a console including side walls, a back wall, a bottom, a top, and an open front portion, said top having a cut-out section to accommodate a platform retractable into upper, intermediate and lower support positions, a chair nestable within said console, said console including a pair of horizontally and vertically aligned tracks mounted on the interior surfaces of the side walls thereof, said retractable platform including a pair of guide plates mounted on the under surface thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, each of said guide plates including a guide roller mounted thereon and positioned to ride within a corresponding track to guide the vertical movement of the retractable platform with respect to the console an engagement pawl mounted on each of said guide plates, and a spring-loaded hinge assembly including a coiled spring carried by the console having one end thereof in fixed relation to the console and the other end thereof forming a spring arm, a first hinge arm, a second hinge arm, and a third hinge arm, said first hinge arm having the opposing ends thereof pivotally mounted on the console and said second hinge arm respectively, and including a spring engagement flange for mating with said spring arm, said second hinge arm pivotally connected to said first and third hinge arms at the opposing ends thereof, and said third hinge arm including a plurality of detents disposed along the upper edge thereof said detents providing temporary stop positions for said engagement pawl, whereby said coiled spring tends to urge the retractable platform into the upper support position, the motion of the retractable platform being interrupted by said engagement pawl riding into one of said detents to provide lower, intermediate and upper support positions of the retractable platform. 

1. A nestable console and chair combination comprising a console including opposing side walls, a back wall, a bottom, a top, and an open front portion, said top having a cut-out section to accommodate a platform retractable into upper, intermediate and lower support positions, a chair nestable within said console, at least two axially aligned swivel casters mounted on the bottom of said console adjacent the back wall thereof, a pair of axially aligned swivel casters mounted on the front edge of said chair, a pair of axially aligned fixed casters mounted on the rear edge of said chair, and lock means for locking said chair in nested relationship with said console, whereby the console and chair combination may be readily nested and locked together and easily moved as a unit by manually lifting the front portion of the unit and maneuvering the unit into the desired position.
 2. The console and chair combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the console includes a pair of horizontally aligned wheel guides mounted on the interior surfaces of the side walls adjacent the bottom thereof, said wheel guides being forwardly tapered thereby to pRovide accurate aligning guides for the chair as the same is inserted into the console for nesting therein.
 3. The console and chair combination as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the chair includes a chair cushion and a pouch disposed adjacent the juncture of the chair back and chair seat in order to accommodate therein storage of said chair cushion to facilitate nesting of the chair within the console when the retractable platform is disposed in the lower support position.
 4. The console and chair combination as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said lock means comprises a pair of magnets mounted on the console along the front portion thereof and a pair of magnetic plates mounted on the interior surface of the chair back whereby once the chair is properly aligned and nested within the console, the magnets each engage corresponding magnetic plates thereby locking the chair in nested relationship with the console.
 5. The console and chair combination as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the console includes a front panel extending from side to side and having a cut-out section adjacent one side thereof to facilitate manual adjustments to an apparatus carried by the retractable platform while disposed in the intermediate support position.
 6. In a nestable console and chair combination wherein the console includes opposing side walls, a back wall, a bottom, a top, and an open front portion, and the top having a cut-out section to accommodate a platform retractable into an upper, intermediate and lower support positions, and a chair nestable within the console, the improvement comprising in combination at least two axially aligned swivel casters mounted on the bottom of the console adjacent the back wall thereof, a pair of axially aligned swivel casters mounted on the front edge of the chair, a pair of axially aligned fixed casters mounted on the rear edge of the chair, lock means for locking the chair in nested relationship with the console, a pair of horizontally aligned wheel guides mounted on the interior surfaces of the side walls of the console adjacent the bottom thereof, said wheel guides being forwardly tapered thereby to provide accurate aligning guides for the chair as the same is inserted into the console for nesting therein, and the chair including a loose chair cushion, and a pouch disposed in the chair adjacent the back edge thereof in order to accommodate therein storage of said chair cushion to facilitate nesting of the chair within the console when the retractable platform is disposed in the lower support position, whereby the console and chair combination may be readily nested and locked together and easily moved as a unit by manually lifting the front portion of the unit and maneuvering the unit into the desired position.
 7. A nestable console and chair combination comprising a console including side walls, a back wall, a bottom, a top, and an open front portion, said top having a cut-out section to accommodate a platform retractable into upper, intermediate and lower support positions, a chair nestable within said console, said console including a pair of horizontally and vertically aligned tracks mounted on the interior surfaces of the side walls thereof, said retractable platform including a pair of guide plates mounted on the under surface thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, each of said guide plates including a guide roller mounted thereon and positioned to ride within a corresponding track to guide the vertical movement of the retractable platform with respect to the console, an engagement pawl mounted on each of said guide plates, and a spring-loaded hinge assembly including a coiled spring carried by the console having one end thereof in fixed relation to the console and the other end thereof forming a spring arm, a first hinge arm, a second hinge arm, and a third hinge arm, said first hinge arm having the opposing ends thereof pivotally mounted on the console and said second hinge arm respectively, and including a spriNg engagement flange for mating with said spring arm, said second hinge arm pivotally connected to said first and third hinge arms at the opposing ends thereof, and said third hinge arm including a plurality of detents disposed along the upper edge thereof said detents providing temporary stop positions for said engagement pawl, whereby said coiled spring tends to urge the retractable platform into the upper support position, the motion of the retractable platform being interrupted by said engagement pawl riding into one of said detents to provide lower, intermediate and upper support positions of the retractable platform. 